How to Pack a Toy Bag for Travel: Tips for Family Vacations
Going on a family vacation and packing for everyone is like a military operation. Remembering all the right clothes for every possible activity is hard enough without having to remember any toys to keep the kids entertained.
I wanted to create an essential guide to packing toys that you can bring with you which are easy to carry, portable and will keep the kids entertained and happy whether you are having to wait at the airport, traveling on a plane or a road trip.
They are also great to use on vacation whether it's in a restaurant or at the hotel or back at home after the vacation ends.
Learn how to pack a toy bag for travel and discover what essentials to include for a fun-filled family vacation
How to Pack Toys For Travel: The Best Toy Bags For Travel
The best way for packing toys for travel is to organize the toys for each individual child.
I love these zippered pouches which you can personalize with a label with the kids name and bring out when they need a toy to entertain them.
These are also easy to grab when you find your seats on the airplane and need to stow your carry on in the overhead compartments.
Grab the pouches and keep them in the seat pocket until you need them. These go to grab bags can help kids of any age to be entertained and happy on a long journey or bigger trips.
My kids also loved carrying their own backpack when traveling which makes it much easier for the parents! You can pack their own travel toys, stuffed animals and favorite toys in their own backpack and also a reusable water bottle in the pocket.
Car Pouch & Play Mat
So Handmade's range of innovative travel toys are perfect to stow away in a carry on and bring out on the plane for entertainment. They are the best airplane toys and the best toys for holidays! This toy car mat and pouch is a perfect all-in-one travel entertainment center!
Travel Play Mats For A Great Trip
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Can I Carry Toys in Cabin Baggage?
Most small toys are fine to bring with you as carry on for the plane ride. Make sure you don't however bring any type of kids nerf guns, squirt guns or similar imitation weapons. If you plan on bringing any toys that have batteries also check these comply with the airline rules before traveling. Or remove batteries before packing toys.
Go To Travel Toys: Make Your Own Busy Bags
Once you have your labeled zippered pouches ready to take with you on vacation here are some of the best children's travel toys to fill them with as an alternative to screen time.
Here are some great ideas for toys to take on your travels.
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Stickers
Stickers are my personal favorite for toddlers on flights, easy to pack in your carry on luggage and can keep them happy for hours. Great for little fingers to peel and place the stickers.
Water Wow Books
My little kids also loves these Melissa and doug travel Water Wow Books from Melissa and Doug. Just fill the pen with water and the paint the pages! Great for some mess free fun!
Doodle Pads
A doodle tablet is a handy toy for older toddlers. You can draw and play travel games on this analog tablet for some screen free fun. Draw a maze for your little one to escape or simple shapes for them to copy.
Busy Plane Book
Busy Books are always great to have with you for plane toys, whether it's a pop up book with tabs to pull and open or a felt book. This educational and fun Plane Busy Book from Usborne is perfect for a trip to the airport!
Lite Brite
The Lite-Bright Touch Mini offers three fun games—Tic Tac Toe, Simon, and Dot-to-Dot—perfect for keeping kids entertained on the go. With 25 light-up buttons that respond to touch, there’s no need for pegs—just press to play!
Magnet Play Set
This Transportation Magnetic Play Set includes 44 magnetic pieces and a fold-out play board, perfect for creating endless travel-themed adventures. Everything stores neatly inside the sturdy, wipe-clean case—great for mess-free, on-the-go fun!
Polly Pockets
This Minions x Polly Pocket compact brings a nostalgic twist to classic Polly Pocket fun, perfect for parents who loved them growing up. With tiny dolls, interactive scenes, and quirky Minions charm, it’s a playful blast from the past that kids and grown-ups alike can enjoy!
Pixio Magnetic Blocks
These PIXIO magnetic blocks endless creative play with 200 tiny, colorful cubes that let kids (and adults!) build pixel-style 3D art. With an award-winning design and a companion app to spark ideas, this sleek, sensory toy is perfect for imaginative builders.
Road Tape & Train Tape
is the perfect aeroplane toys for kids of all ages. It's small and portable to bring with you and easily fits into your carry on bag. Roll the tape out on the tray table or plane window and create your own road or train tracks to play on. These rolls are so small to fit into your carry on bag. Remember to bring a favorite toy car, train or even a toy plane to drive around too!
More Toys For Travel
Travel Micro Magna-Tiles
This magna-tile set is a must-have travel companion for family trips – whether by plane, train or automobile – and restaurants, too! Encourages the development of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, while spurring creativity.
Fidget Toy
Fidget Toys are fun airplane toys and travel games to keep little hands busy or think about magnetic toys which can help keep the parts all together.
Toy Car Storage
With this Toy Car Storage you can store their favorite cars in the pockets and zoom around the playmat play travel games and drive the toy cars through the tunnel. Flying with a 3 year old just got loads easier with these play mats!
Squeeze Maze
This 4 pack of mazes are super fun and no mess! The sensory Montessori toys are perfect for toddler aged 3 - 6, helping them build color recognition skills while enhancing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
How Do You Pack Small Toys?
I don't suggest bringing really small toys such as small hatchimals or animal figures onto the plane or traveling. These can get dropped and lost really easily. Also stay away from bringing any delicate toys as they could easily get broken.
If you do decide to bring them I suggest you also pack them in zippered bags such as these.
A great tip is to add a sticker to the front of the pouch where you write down exactly what and how many is in the bag. That way you can make sure they are all returned after play time.
Best Seller Travel Toy Bag
Our Toy Car Roll is the no 1 bestseller for kids on the go.
For hot wheel size toy cars, this is many a toddlers favorites. It has a road track on one side to drive around and numbered pockets for your favorite vehicles on the other side.
Kids's Holder Passport
The Adventure Awaits passport holder are ideal for adults and children alike. The passport wallet fits a passport perfectly to keep it protected and safe while traveling. Get this stylish new passport holder as a great gift for a world traveler. Add this travel essentials accessory to your order today!
How to Pack Toys For Travel
When you are packing your bag for carry one and hand luggage I like to separate the toys into a separate packing cube or smaller travel bag you can get from the dollar store within your diaper bag. This is so I can easily grab it out before putting your luggage into the overhead compartments.
The handy toys can be kept hidden from your toddler and bring them out one at a time so as to keep some as a 'surprise' when the fidgeting starts. Having a mix of a few new toys and some tried and tested favorites is also good idea.
Try and keep a schedule like you would at home so during the day time play hour have them engaging in the more active travel toys but when it gets close to nap or night time choose a quieter book or their favorite stuffy to prepare them for sleeping. Having a window seat can also be a good idea if you have a choice so that they don't have to be disturbed to move if someone needs the bathroom.
Traveling with young children can be a challenge, but with the right plane toys for 18 month olds and the best toy for toddler girls, it can be a fun and engaging experience. An aircraft toy or a set of aircraft toys can capture your little one’s attention, offering hours of creative play. Whether you’re looking for gifts for kids who like maps or travel toys for 6 month olds, having the right infant toys for airplane travel makes all the difference. Toy planes for toddlers and other good toys for toddlers on planes, such as air plane toys, are essential for keeping your child happy and entertained during the flight.
Traveling with toddlers just got easier with our must-have airplane toys! Compact and engaging, these toy planes are perfect for keeping little ones entertained during several hours of flight. Pack them in your carry-on bag along with a fun fidget toy, and you’ve got a game changer for stress-free travel. Want to stay extra organized? Use a Ziploc bag to keep all their toys and small accessories together for quick access. Whether they’re gazing out the airplane window or playing with their favorite travel toys, your child will be happily occupied on your next flight.
How to Pack Your Toys For Travel
The best way for packing toys for travel is to organize the toys for each individual child.
I love these zippered pouches which you can personalize with a label with the kids name and bring out when they need a toy to entertain them.
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These are also easy to grab when you find your seats on the airplane and need to stow your carry on in the overhead compartments.
Grab the pouches and keep them in the seat pocket until you need them. These go to grab bags can help kids of any age to be entertained and happy on a long journey or bigger trips.
My kids also loved carrying their own backpack when traveling which makes it much easier for the parents! You can pack their own travel toys, stuffed animals and favorite toys in their own backpack and also a reusable water bottle in the pocket.
How Do You Pack A Toddler Bag For Travel?
Toddlers and younger children love carrying their own bags when going away on vacation but keep in mind that when they are tired or for no reason at all they might refuse to carry it anymore and you are left with more bags to carry!
For this reason I love my foldable travel duffel bag or totes. It zips up really small and I keep it in my bag. Then once layers are discarded, bags are dropped and duty free shopping has been done I can get it out and put everything in this one larger bag. So much easier for carrying! This is also a great totes for using on vacation especially to take for wet towels after a beach visit.
So if you pack a backpack for your toddler make sure not to overfill or make it too heavy as you will be the one who has to bear the brunt!
Here's what I recommend you pack in your toddlers carry on:
- Favorite stuffed animal
- Favorite car or toy vehicle
- Refillable water bottle
- Small story or sticker book
- Check out my collection of Screen Free Toddler Toys for busy kids on the go!
Free Road Trip Printables
Don't forget to download our free road trip and travel activity sheets!
Benefits of Using Busy Bags For Travel:
So Handmade's range of Travel Play mats offers a convenient solution for on-the-go entertainment, fitting neatly into your purse for spontaneous play sessions. These play mats offer numerous benefits for your children, serving as a screen-free alternative.
1. Stimulating Entertainment:
Travel Playmats serve as dynamic backdrops for your children's imaginative tales and adventures, evolving with their storytelling throughout the journey, ensuring enduring engagement on lengthy trips.
2. Fostering Imagination and Creativity:
These playmats ignite children's creativity, encouraging them to craft their own narratives and scenarios. Initiate play by leveraging the theme of the mat to spark conversations that blossom into elaborate games and stories.
3. Learning Opportunities:
Travel Play mats double as educational tools, enabling the integration of learning into playtime. From identifying dinosaurs to engaging in matching games and counting exercises, these mats facilitate skill development on the fly.
4. Comfort and Familiarity:
Amidst the chaos of travel, these playmats offer a comforting sense of familiarity for children, easing their anxieties in unfamiliar surroundings. Adding personal touches like their favorite toy to a themed mat can further enhance their sense of security.
5. Portability and Versatility:
Crafted with portability in mind, So Handmade's Travel Play mats are lightweight and easily transportable, folding or rolling up for compact storage. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, they provide endless play possibilities—from long trips to park outings and beach days.
Conclusion: Why Are Toy Bags For Travel Important For Stress Free Family Trips
Having a busy bag in your travel bag or seat pocket will not only will it keep your child occupied, but it will also encourage their imagination and creativity to flourish.
When it comes to travel essentials for children, busy bags are a must-have item. These versatile travel bags come in various sizes, colors, and designs, making them perfect for carrying your child's favorite toys wherever you go. Whether it's a long road journey, a trip to the beach, or simply running errands around town, having a toy bag ensures that your kid stays entertained and happy.
With convenient features like pockets, zippers, and personalized options, these bags make it easy to organize toys for kids of all ages. Plus, they're great for keeping small items like blocks or puzzles together and easily accessible.
I highly recommend adding a busy bag to your cart before your next adventure—it's a small addition that makes a big difference in ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable time for both you and your child.
Packing a toy bag for travel can make all the difference when it comes to stress-free trips with kids. Whether you’re heading to grandma’s house, planning long car rides, or just running everyday errands, having a go-to toy bag packed with the right toys, snacks, and wipes is essential.
Choose a durable kids backpack or travel bag with a front pocketfor small items like crayons or stickers that should be easily accessible. Parents know how much kids love having their own space to pack their favorite baby toys, and friends are always asking for tips once they see how well it works.
A washable, durable option saves money in the long run, especially when it holds up to messes and everyday use. Be sure to pack a change of clothes, a few engaging toys, and maybe even a surprise treat for when boredom hits.
At So Handmade, we believe in quality and convenience, and we ship our handmade toy rolls and mats quickly so you’re ready for any trip—just mention this post as an example of how to pack smart!
If you like this blog post make sure you check out my Toddler Travel Tips and Road Trip Toys for more ideas. Make sure you also check out our collection of Children Travel Items for all your little adventurers and our printable large construction coloring page for some fun play and color time.